Pending Home Sales at Highest Level since 2006

WASHINGTON – May 28, 2015 – Pending home sales rose in April for the fourth straight month and reached their highest level in nine years, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). All four major regions saw increases.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, increased 3.4 percent to 112.4 in April from a slight upward revision of 108.7 in March – a year-to-year 14 percent increase.

The increase in the number of April pending sales is the largest annual increase since September 2012. The index has now increased year-over-year for eight consecutive months, and it’s at its highest level since May 2006.

“Realtors are saying foot traffic remains elevated this spring despite limited – and in some cases severe – inventory shortages in many metro areas,” says Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. “Homeowners looking to sell this spring appear to be in the driver’s seat, as there are more buyers competing for a limited number of homes available for sale. As a result, home prices are up and accelerating in many markets.”

Following April’s decline in existing-home sales, Yun expects a rebound heading into the summer – but the likelihood of meaningful gains will depend on a much-needed boost in inventory and evidence of moderating price growth now that interest rates have started to rise.

“The housing market can handle interest rates well above 4 percent as long as inventory improves to slow price growth and underwriting standards ease to normal levels so that qualified buyers – especially first-time buyers – are able to obtain a mortgage,” Yun says.

After falling four straight months, the PHSI in the Northeast bounced back solidly (10.1 percent) to 88.3 in April, and is now 9.4 percent above a year ago. In the Midwest, the index increased 5.0 percent to 113.0 in April, and is 13.3 percent above April 2014.

Pending home sales in the South rose 2.3 percent to an index of 129.4 in April and are 14.8 percent above last April. The index in the West inched 0.1 percent in April to 103.8, and is 16.4 percent above a year ago.

NAR forecasts that total existing-home sales in 2015 will be around 5.24 million, an increase of 6.1 percent from 2014. The national median existing-home price for all of this year is expected to increase around 6.7 percent. In 2014, existing-home sales declined 2.9 percent and prices rose 5.7 percent.

In April, U.S. Home Prices = Market Value

IRVINE, Calif. – May 28, 2015 – Are home selling prices below, above or about equal to homes’ fair market value? According to RealtyTrac’s April 2015 U.S. Home Sales Report, the U.S. market has hit a balance – overall, selling prices generally equal fair market prices.

In Florida counties with enough data to be included in the report, the results are similar. Only one county, Leon, has selling prices greater than fair market prices, and the difference is only 1 percent. All other counties except Escambia have selling prices that are within at least 93 percent of fair market value.

“Nationwide in April, single family homes and condos sold for almost exactly 100 percent of their estimated full market value on average – indicating a good balance between supply from sellers and demand from buyers,” says Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. “At the local level, however, most markets tipped in favor of either sellers or buyers – although there were some Goldilocks markets exhibiting a ‘just right’ balance between buyers and sellers.”

Local Sales Price to Value by County:

Lee: $191,555 avg. sale price – 98% of market value

Collier: $309,114 avg. sale price – 97% of market value

“We are in a strong balanced market tipping toward a seller’s market,” says Mike Pappas, CEO and president of the Keyes Company covering South Florida. “Even our waning distressed inventory prices are popping and selling above the appraisal price.”

Nationwide price-to-value trends

Higher than fair market value: Out of 315 counties with a population of at least 100,000 and at least 100 sales in April, 85 (27 percent) had homes that sold, on average, for at least 101 percent of their estimated full market value. At the top of the list: Alameda and San Francisco counties in California with average sale prices that were 108 percent of the estimated full market values.

Below fair market value: Out of the same 315 counties, 186 (59 percent) had homes that sold, on average, for less than 100 percent of their estimated full market value. The lowest price-to-value area: St. Louis City, Missouri at 77 percent.

Balanced market values: Out of 315 counties, 44 (14 percent) had homes that sold, on average sold for 100 percent of their estimated full market value.

Ten Things to Try in your Room when it Needs Something

Get a fresh perspective with these tips for improving your room’s design and decor

Room feeling cramped, artwork a mess, color scheme missing the mark? Whatever ails your room, sometimes all that’s needed is a careful tweak or two to bring things back into balance. Here are seven common dilemmas and 10 remedies to put things right.

Naples, Fla. (April 17, 2015) – Overall activity in the Naples area real estate market across all price categories remains steady, according to the First Quarter 2015 Market Report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island). Most notable in the report was the $300,000 – $500,000 price category for condominiums in which the overall closed and pending sales increased by double digits in the first quarter of 2015. Statistics show a recent shift in buyer focus from single-family homes to condominiums.

Broker analysts reviewing the First Quarter 2015 Market Report agree that a new trend may be emerging, as the report showed condominiums outperforming single-family home sales. As such, these analysts predict condominiums will see continued rise in activity moving into summer.

“Pending and closed sales in the mid-level price range [$300K – $500K] for both March and first quarter outperformed all other areas of the market,” said Phil Wood, President & CEO of John R. Wood Properties. “Perhaps this is reflective of vacation home buyers who want a place to escape the winter weather. Condos are the easiest way for them to do so, since exterior maintenance issues are handled by the associations.”

“The difference in performance between the single-family home market and condo market in the $300,000 -$500,000 price category for the first quarter is quite impressive,” said Steve Barker, Advising Broker for Equity Realty. “Pending sales for condominiums in the $300,000 – $500,000 price category increased 53 percent. Yet, while the single family home market is very good, pending sales for single-family homes in this same price category increased only half that, at 26 percent.”

Supporting analysis presented by Cindy Carroll SRA, with the real estate appraisal and consultancy firm Carroll & Carroll, Inc., at NABOR®’s Economic Summit earlier this month, several brokers including Kathy Zorn, Bill Coffey and Mike Hughes pointed out that the First Quarter 2015 Market Report indicated location as a big factor in home sales activity.

Hughes remarked that, “the overall median closed price in all geo-specific areas of the county increased double digits compared to the same quarter last year.” Zorn added, “in both the Central Naples and South Naples areas, the median closed price rose 17 percent compared to the first quarter of 2014.”

Overall inventory for the $300,000 – $500,000 price category in the first quarter of 2015 increased 14 percent from 934 homes in the first quarter of 2014 to 1,061 homes in the first quarter of 2015. Only the inventory in the over $2 million price category had a larger increase – 18 percent – expanding from 400 homes in the first quarter of 2014 to 471 homes in the first quarter of 2015.

“The number of people paying cash for their homes remains strong,” said Barker, who added, “a stunning 73 percent of all home sales in the first quarter of 2015 were cash-only purchases. Strict lending standards combined with low inventory continue to give the advantage to cash buyers in this housing market.”

“We also see that in March, traditional sales dominated the market at 91 percent,” said Bill Poteet, owner and broker at Poteet Properties. “There were 921 traditional sales and only 19 non-traditional [short sale and/or foreclosed] sales.” He went on to note that March’s market performance is typically a leading indicator of the trend we can expect going in to the summer.

The NABOR® 1Q 2015 Market Report provides comparisons of single-family home and condominium sales (via the Southwest Florida MLS), price ranges, and geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. The NABOR® 1Q 2015 sales statistics are presented in chart format, including these overall (single-family and condominium) findings:

Inventory of single-family homes in the $500,000 – $1 million price category increased 21 percent from 529 in 1Q 2014 to 640 in 1Q 2015.

Inventory for condominiums in the $2 million and above price category increased 77 percent from 39 in 1Q 2014 to 69 in 1Q 2015.

Average days on market decreased 11 percent from 95 in 1Q 2014 to 85 in 1Q 2015.

The NABOR® March 2015 Market Report was also released and reflected these overall (single-family and condominium) findings:

Overall pending sales increased 9 percent from 1,399 homes in March 2014 to 1,520 homes in March 2015.

Overall closed sales increased 3 percent from 981 homes in March 2014 to 1,014 homes in March 2015.

Overall median closed price increased 12 percent from $248,000 in the 12-months ending March 2014 to $278,000 in the 12-months ending March 2015.

Overall median closed price in the $0-$300,000 category increased 9 percent from $165,000 in the 12-months ending March 2014 to $189,000 in the 12-months ending March 2015.

Overall inventory decreased 3 percent from 4,405 homes in March 2014 to 4,253 in March 2015.

Average days on market decreased 16 percent from 94 days in March 2014 to 80 days in March 2015.

“The statistics show that the lower the price category, the faster the home will sell and the higher the price category, the longer it takes to sell,” said Brenda Fioretti, Managing Broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty. “For example, homes in the $0 – $300,000 price range sold in an average of 64 days in the first quarter of 2015, while homes in the over $2 million price category stayed on the market 152 days before they sold.”

The First Quarter 2015 and March 2015 Market Reports reflect exactly what all three economic experts predicted at NABOR®’s 4th annual Economic Summit: that the real estate industry in Florida is very good and will continue to stay very good through 2015.

May 9th: The Great Dock Canoe Races, race starts at The Dock at Crayton Cove

Average rate on 30-year mortgage drops to 3.75%

Average long-term mortgage rates have fallen for the first time in four weeks and remain near historic lows reached in May 2013.

Mortgage giant Freddie Mac said Thursday that the national average for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 3.75 percent from 3.80 percent last week.

The rate for a 15-year mortgage, popular with homeowners who refinance, fell to 3.03 percent from 3.07 percent last week.

A year ago, the average 30-year mortgage stood at 4.28 percent and the 15-year mortgage at 3.32 percent. Mortgage rates have remained low even though the Federal Reserve in October ended its monthly bond purchases, which were meant to hold down long-term rates.

Economic weakness around the world has lured global investors to the relatively strong U.S. economy. They’ve bought Treasurys and pushed the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note down to 2.11 percent from 2.79 percent a year ago.

The Fed continues to keep short-term rates near zero. Fed Chair Janet Yellen delivered the central bank’s semiannual economic report to Congress last week and indicated that the Fed is still willing to be “patient” before raising short-term rates.

The Fed is worried about weak wage growth and inflation well below its 2 percent target.

To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country at the beginning of each week. The average doesn’t include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.

The average fee for a 30-year mortgage was 0.6 point, unchanged from last week. The fee for a 15-year mortgage also remained at 0.6 point.

The average rate on a five-year adjustable-rate mortgage fell to 2.96 from 2.99 percent. The fee was stable at 0.5 point.

For a one-year ARM, the average rate was unchanged at 2.44 percent. The fee remained at 0.4 point.

The secrets to selling a second home

March 24, 2015 – According to the National Association of Realtors®, vacation-home sales in 2013 increased nearly 30 percent, while sales of investment homes slipped 8.5 percent. Real estate agents specializing in the vacation-property market – a big niche in retirement-friendly Florida – say that these buyers have a different style than clients seeking a place to live full time.

They stress the importance of conveying the story of a home, the surroundings and the community if clients are looking for a second home – “Doing whatever it takes to get that ‘magical’ picture to portray the feeling of the property … is still probably the single most important thing when it comes to marketing,” says Joe Burns of Country Homes Real Estate in New Hampshire.

Julie Toon Timms of Hilton Head Island Real Estate Brokers in South Carolina emphasizes the need for patience.

“With a vacation or investment property, it’s not a matter of needing a roof over one’s head, and I find many buyers taking a long time, sometimes years, before making the final decision,” she says.

Timms says building a genuine relationship is crucial. Since many vacation-property owners rent out their homes, agents should provide them with data on cash flows and rates of return, among other information.

Additionally, agents should have first-hand experience living in the area, a deep-seated love for the community, and the ability to truly listen to the wishes of their clients in order to succeed in the vacation home niche.

Pending home sales rise 3.1% in Feb. despite weather

March 30, 2015 – In February, pending home sales increased to their highest level since June 2013 as sizeable gains in the Midwest and West offset smaller declines in the Northeast and South, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 3.1 percent to 106.9 in February from a slight downward revision of 103.7 in January. It’s now 12.0 percent year-to-year – since February 2014’s 95.4.

The index is at its highest level in almost two years, since June 2013 (109.4). Pending sales have increased year-over-year for six consecutive months and remained above 100 – considered an average level of activity – for the 10th consecutive month.

“Pending sales showed solid gains last month, driven by a steadily-improving labor market, mortgage rates hovering around 4 percent, and the likelihood of more renters looking to hedge against increasing rents,” says Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. “These factors bode well for the prospect of an uptick in sales in coming months. However, the underlying obstacle – especially for first-time buyers – continues to be the depressed level of homes available for sale.”

According to NAR’s monthly Realtors Confidence Index, the percent share of first-time buyers increased slightly for the first time since November 2014, rising from 28 percent in January to 29 percent in February.

“Several markets remain highly competitive due to supply pressures, and Realtors are reporting severe shortages of move-in ready and available properties in lower price ranges,” says Yun. “The return of first-time buyers this year will depend on how quickly inventory shows up in the market.”

The Pending Home Sales Index in the Northeast fell 2.3 percent to 81.7 in February, but it’s 4.1 percent above a year ago. In the Midwest, the index leaped 11.6 percent to 110.4 in February. It’s now 13.8 percent above February 2014.

Pending home sales in the South decreased 1.4 percent to an index of 120.2 in February, but they remained 10.8 percent above last February. The index in the West climbed 6.6 percent in February to 102.1 and is now 18.3 percent above a year ago.

NAR forecasts total existing-homes sales in 2015 to be around 5.25 million, an increase of 6.4 percent from 2014. The national median existing-home price for all of this year is expected to increase around 5.6 percent. In 2014, existing-home sales declined 2.9 percent and prices rose 5.7 percent.

Wishing you every happiness this Holiday Season and prosperity in the New year. I look
forward continuing our relationship in the coming year.

All the best to you and your family.

Kind Regards,

Karen Sweatlock

January Events

January 3-5th: Downtown Naples New Year’s Art Fair, Fifth Avenue South, Naples A new year and new opportunities await at this well-established art festival, which draws more than 230 professional artists from around the country and is ranked as one of the 100 Best Fine Art Shows in the U.S. by Sunshine Artist Magazine.

January 7-25th:The Marco Island Players, Marco Island

In 2015, the Marco Island Players are celebrating 40 years of live performances! Kicking off their first theatre production of the New Year, “Becky’s New Car” will run from January 7-25, 2014. “Becky’s New Car” is a thoroughly original comedy with delicious deadpan humor and U-turn plot twists! With evening and afternoon showings, please visit http://themarcoplayers.com/ for ticket pricing and information.

January 10-11th:National Art Festival, Bonita Springs

The Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs presents fine arts/fine crafts festivals each year in Bonita Springs. Enjoy the artworks of 200 national and international artists on January 10-11, 2014 from 10am to 5pm, while supporting the many programs offered at the Centers for the Arts. This show presents quality artwork resulting in the highest ratings by the National ranking services. View and buy artwork directly from the artists who produce the work! Festival proceeds go to support community art activities. This event boasts the largest attendance of any event in Bonita Springs! For more information, please visit http://artinusa.com/bonita/

January 23-25th:The 2015 Naples Winter Wine Festival, Naples

Since 2004, the Winter Wine Festival has earned the distinction of being one of the most successful charity wine auctions in the nation according to Wine Spectator. The event brings many of the world’s finest vintners and chefs together with wine collectors and philanthropists for a three-day gala in Naples. Attendees fly in from all over the world to attend this amazing event! This year the event takes place on January 23-25, 2015. For a schedule of events and ticket inquiry, please visit http://www.napleswinefestival.com/.

January 24-25th: Swamp Buggy Races, Florida Sports Park, Naples

Experience the world’s muddiest races as swamp buggy vehicles speed around the track known as the Mile O’ Mud. The Races, heralded as the World’s Muddiest, feature swamp buggies — which range from standard Jeeps with snorkels to giant monsters with NASCAR racing engines — navigating the famous Mile O’ Mud track. This figure-eight track is flooded with water, around 18 inches deep in most areas, but much deeper in the dreaded sippi holes, so as you can imagine it gets really messy.

Average Sales Price Up 10.5%; The Number of Available Properties Down

CLOSED SALES

On a rolling twelve month basis (not shown on the report), closings are up 7% and average sales price is up 10.5%. Year-to-date, the median sales price is up 8% over prior year, following a 12% increase from 2011 to 2012, and a 17% increase from 2012 to 2013. All price categories posted gains in the number of closed sales with the exception of properties priced under $250,000. The greatest increase was the segment priced above $1 million, which was up 27%

PENDED SALES

Pended sales above $2 million are up 38% year-to-date. Sales above $5 million almost doubled with 101 sales pended vs 52 in the same period 2013. Sales pended during the month of November are the highest on record for the month.

NEW LISTINGS/INVENTORY

On December 1, 2014, available inventory in the combined Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero market stands at 4,948 units (2,763 single family homes and 2,185 condominiums). This represents a 4.9 month supply based on the number of closings in the past 12 months. The number of available properties is down 12.5% from December 1, 2013.

Distributed by John R. Wood Properties’

Buyers Rush Luxury Market in November

Naples, Fla.(December 19, 2014) – Sellers in the luxury market can expect a very good buyer turnout in the coming months according to a consensus among Naples’ top brokers after they analyzed the November 2014 Market Report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales with Collier County (excluding Marco Island). Their prediction was based on several factors including overall pending sales activity, which rose 11 percent for homes priced over $1 million; overall closed sales activity, which increased 17 percent for homes priced over $1 million; and that the majority of homes sold in the $2 million and above category were cash sales.

“Pending and closed sales activity in all price categories above $300,000 was up over the past 12-month period ending in November,” said Tom Bringardner, Jr., President/CEO of Premier Commercial.

“Activity in the high end market is remarkable coming into season,” said Steve Barker, Advising Broker for Equity Realty. “The report indicated that a greater number of homes in the $2 million and above price category were sold [21] as compared to what sold in the same month last year [14]. This is a good sign for sellers in our market because people who have the resources to pay cash for million dollar homes are smart and careful investors. They are not going to make a poor investment decision, which speaks volumes for the value of our market.”

The November 2014 report showed heightened activity in several areas of the luxury market including a 40 percent increase in overall closed sales for single family homes priced $2 million and above from 202 in the 12-months ending November 2013 to 282 in the 12-months ending November 2014; an 11 percent increase in closed sales for condominiums priced $1 million- $2 million from 234 in the 12-months ending November 2013 to 260 in the 12-months ending November 2014; and a 35 percent increase in single family median home prices in the Naples Beach area from $739,000 in the 12-months ending November 2013 to $1,000,000 in the 12-months ending November 2014.

“Median price in the Naples Beach area single family home market can not continue to increase at the current rate indefinitely,” said Cindy Carroll, SRA, with the real estate appraisal and consultancy firm of Carroll & Carroll, Inc., who added that, despite aggressive activity in new construction, the report indicated that inventory in the resale market continued to decline.

The NABOR® November 2014 Market Report provides comparisons of single-family home and condominium sales (via the Southwest Florida MLS), price ranges, and geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. The NABOR® November 2014 sales statistics are presented in chart format, including these overall (single-family and condominium) findings:

Overall pending sales decreased 2 percent from 840 in November 2013 to 825 in November 2014.

Pending sales for single family homes in the $300,000-$500,000 price category increased 32 percent from 99 in November 2013 to 131 in November 2014.

Pending sales for single family homes in the $2 million and above category increased 24 percent from 25 in November 2013 to 31 in November 2014.

Overall closed sales decreased 2 percent from 9,878 in the 12-months ending November 2013 to 9,635 in the 12-months ending November 2014.

Median closed price increased 12 percent from $236,000 in the 12-months ending November 2013 to $265,000 in the 12-months ending November 2014.

Median closed price for single family homes in the $2 million and above price category increased 50 percent month over month from $2,600,000 in November 2013 to $3,900,000 in November 2014.

Overall inventory decreased 10 percent from 4,584 homes in November 2013 compared to 4,136 homes in November 2014.

If you have not attended the Stone Crab Festival, you are truly missing out! A Naples favorite, the Stone Crab Festival is an action-packed weekend taking place at various locations on the historic Old Naples Waterfront, including Tin City, Bayfront, and Port-O-Call Marina. Plenty of fresh, locally-harvested stone crab claws, fish and shellfish, live music, events, art, vendors and many fun activities for the entire family! This year’s festival is taking place on October 24-26, 2014. It runs from Friday afternoon and evening through Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free! For more information, call (239) 594-2978 or visit http://www.stonecrabfestival.org/

1st Annual Naples Boat Show Downtown

Naples-Marco Island

This inaugural event takes place on October 4-5, 2014 from 10:00am to 5:00pm at the Naples City Dock and Crayton Cove; 880 12th Avenue South. The Naples Boat Show Downtown is owned and managed by the Marine Industries Association of Collier County and is the premier in-water recreational show in the Naples-Marco Island area. The show will feature displays by marinas, boat dealers, and other marine related businesses. Featured restaurants are Texas Tony’s, Crayton Cove restaurants, Bleu Provence, Chez Boet, The Dock Restaurant, and Napoli on the Bay Admission is free! For more information, visit http://www.miacc.org/

RiverFest Autumn Festival

Bonita Springs

A day of fun for all ages. The RiverFest Autumn Festival takes place in Bonita Springs on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at the Liles Hotel Plaza of Riverside Park, 27300 Old US 41 Road. Activities include live music, hayrides, ponyrides, pumpkin patch, Imperial River canoe and kayak races, pumpkin decorating contest, petting zoo, cornhole contest, old-fashioned fish fry, a rubber duck race and more. This is a family-fun event that is sure to please everyone! For more information, call (239) 949-6262.

It’s Time to Buy!

Naples, Bonita, Estero real estate market is hot and properties are still selling quickly and also for the month of October, Karen is offering a Home Warranty that values $390 with every listing, which covers you and your home while it is being marketed and passes on to your prospective buyer – a great incentive for the buyer of your home.

Contact Karen for more Details!!!

The Sweatlock Team’s Closed Sales and Karen’s Featured listings of the month:

Featured Listings:

213 Viking Way

$489,000

Absolutely Gorgeous 3BR/2BA Pool home located on the La Playa Golf Course remodeled with all the upgrades & amenities you could wish for such as custom gourmet kitchen with granite counter tops & custom cabinets & stainless steel appliances plus custom bath vanities and lots of beautiful large tiles plus a 15 x 40 ft heated pool perfect for those who like to do laps & large lanai with summer kitchen. Entire home is complete with electric storm shutters with remotes including a generator. Close to NCH and less than 3 miles to the Gulf beaches.

492 Saddlebrook Lane

$799,000

This gorgeous former Model open floor plan overlooks a nature preserve giving complete privacy. This 3 BR Plus Den 2 full baths and 2 half baths with heated pool and spa home has all the bells ans whistles such as crown molding throughout, accent recessed lighting, custom pecan color cabinetry and granite counter tops in kitchen and baths, diagonal large tiles throughout main living areas, central vac, monitored alarm system, dry bar, lots of closet space, storm shutters and much more! Less than 3 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and Vanderbilt sandy white beaches. Close to Mercado with fine restaurants and great shopping!

2389 Turnberry Court

$1,099,000

Located in one of North Naples upscale neighborhoods and close to Mercado with fine restaurants and great shopping. Absolutely stunning private Lakefront views overlooking a fountain from the extra-large lanai with heated pool & spa. Custom built in 2000 and beautifully maintained 4 BR Plus Den 3.5 BA with open floor plan including summer kitchen – perfect for entertaining. Kitchen was recently upgraded with granite counter tops & several stainless steel appliances. Custom upgraded kitchen cabinets, 18″ ceramic tiles throughout main living area & Berber carpeting in bedrooms and den, security system are just some of the extras!

Closed Sales:

290 Emerald Bay Circle, Naples

$165,000

20090 Seagrove Street#2104, Estero

$210,000

404 Ashbury Way, Naples

$309,000

138 Westwood Drive, Naples

$383,000

58 Heritage Way, Naples

$428,000

5501 Heron Point Drive#902, Naples

$545,000

11030 Gulfshore Drive #704, Naples

$610,000

415 Sea Grove Lane #101, Naples

$689,000

9566 Gulf Shore Drive #PH 01, Naples

$1,600,000

9 SUCCESS TIPS FOR YOUR STATEMENT DOOR MAKE-OVER

Which change to the street face of your home can dramatically up its value while expressing your delight as a homeowner?

Make a statement with a new front entry door.

Take advantage of developments in materials and technology to redesign or restate your main entry and you can benefit on many levels: add value, decrease energy costs, increase security, make a unique creative statement, and more…

Increase buyer traffic to increase the potential for a sale. When you’re preparing your home for sale, your real estate professional may offer cost-effective advice on which specific front entry style attracts the buyers you’re targeting.

Buyers who realize that listings with a no-statement front entry may be overlooked by other purchasers can gain an edge in even competitive markets.

If selling is not an immediate concern, set a practical budget compatible with expected value appreciation. A few quotations may help pin down what makes financial sense.

Once you’ve decided on new door specifics, attend a home or design show where door sellers offer special show prices and you may save hundreds or even thousands.

Take time to explore all your options before you dive in. For practical statement ideas, check out new homes and slightly more up-scale areas than yours if “door make-overs” have not hit your neighborhood yet. Decide which features of your home to accentuate and which entry style—traditional, classic, modern—best compliments your home’s style.